Rent vs. Buy in Winnebago County, IA

Should you rent or buy in Winnebago County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$121,700

Median Rent

$669/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

15.2x

Homeownership Rate

75.4%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$615
Property Tax$152
Insurance$41

Total Monthly$808

Renting

Monthly Rent$669
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$694

In Winnebago County, buying costs approximately $139/mo more than renting. This doesn't account for equity buildup, tax deductions, or home appreciation.

About Winnebago County, Iowa

Winnebago County in Iowa has a median household income of $62,853 and an effective property tax rate of 1.5%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 15.2x, the rent-vs-buy decision is nuanced and depends on your timeline.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in Iowa

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.